I was just in Northpark Center this week and it occurred to me that it is nearly time for an annual Dallas Event... The Trains at NorthPark.
For 22 years, children and adults have taken a break from their holiday shopping at NorthPark to enjoy the over 35 "O" Gauge trains and the amazingly realistic scenery created for the display. What many people do not realize is that the Trains display is a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. The model trains in the exhibit will travel across America from the Golden Gate Bridge to New York's Times Square, passing Mount Rushmore and our nation's capital too. It's a wonderful holiday event and benefits an outstanding cause.
The Ronald McDonald House serves as a home to parents and family members bringing critically ill children to Dallas hospitals for treatment. According to the Ronald McDonald House website, the train exhibit has become so popular that it now generates half of their annual budget! With this year's economic conditions, I am certain that public support of this event is more crucial than ever!
Be sure to check out what I consider to be one of the premier train displays I have ever seen... it will bring out the kid in anyone!
Dates: Saturday, November 21, 2009 - Sunday, January 3, 2010
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday: Noon - 6 p.m.
(Early closings on days before holidays and on New Year's Day)
Location:
Inside the NorthPark Center mall.
Cost:
$6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children & seniors (65 and older). Children under 2 are free.
Dallas's Katy Trail is the starting point in Dallas' plan to develop a network of urban trails to connect the city for pedestrians, bicyclists, and lovers of the outdoors. The history of the Katy Trail began in 1997, when community members and city leaders jointly came together in order to repurpose the land along which the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT or "Katy") Railroad traveled through Dallas.
Today, the Katy Trail is a 3.5 mile long urban trail extending from the American Airlines Center northward to Airline Drive not far from SMU. The plans are that, when completed, the trail will extend to the Mockingbird Station DART Rail stop in the north and to Downtown Dallas' West End entertainment district in the south. The trail features hard surface biking and skating trails along with softer surface running, jogging and walking paths.
The dense foliage and elevation of the trail makes much of it very peaceful and not urban feeling, much like New York's Central park. There are also scenic overlooks from sites of the former train bridges overlooking main thoroughfares and a scenic overlook of Lee Park and Turtle Creek scheduled to open next month.
For more information on hours, access points, location, etc. please visit www.katytraildallas.org
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If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and are looking for an experienced REALTOR® to offer guidance, support, and make the home selling or Short Sale process easier and more friendly... like it used to be when service was more than a word, it was personal and valued, call me today at (469)449-9840 to schedule a consultation. Or visit my Dallas Real Estate website at EasyTexasRealEstate.com. I'd be happy to help you move forward and achieve your Real Estate objectives.
Not located in the D/FW area? Contact me anyway... I'd be happy to refer you to a REALTOR® in your area who can help you with the same personal service that I provide to my clients.
All photographs are the exclusive property of Steve Shatsky. They may not be used or reproduced in any manner without expressed written permission from Steve Shatsky. ©Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.
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I am not sure why, but, in addition to real estate topics, I love blogging about my favorite restaurants in Dallas and someone suggested to me that I provide my blog readers with a reference summary of my reviews. I am not a professional foodie or food critic, but I do like to eat and I do know which meals I enjoyed and which ones left a bad taste in my mouth.
Jon Zolsky suggested that I leave a disclaimer on my restaurant posts, so, just for the record, I have not ever, nor will I ever accept any gratuity, free food or other compensation for including an establishment, business or service on my blog or for the nature of my comments on it. (How's that for an absolute disclaimer?)
Judging by the list of places I have reviewed on my blog I should weigh much more than I do, and seeing this list, I realize how many more of my favorites I have not been to lately! So by popular demand (of two) here is a summary of links to some of my favorite Dallas area restaurant/food reviews by category:
American (Casual):
Maple & Motor: Maple & Motor: A Bacon & Burger Bonanza!
Dodie's Seafood Cajun Diner: Dodie's Seafood Cajun Diner: A Winning Recipe!
Lucky's Café: Lucky's Café: Mmmm... Breakfast!
Celebration Restaurant: Celebration Restaurant... A Reason to Celebrate!
The Porch: The Porch: Great Dallas Restaurant, or Rocking Chairs & Whittling?
Café Brazil: Café Brazil: Good Food + Good Caffeine = Happy Customers
Rudy's BBQ: Rudy's BBQ - Here we go again!
American (Fine/Expensive):
Five Sixty: Plucked then Pucked: My Duck at Five Sixty!
Asian:
Roti Grill: Roti Grill: Indian Food Fast, Not Indian Fast Food!
Ginger Thai: Ginger Thai - Good Thai Food and Reasonable Prices make for a Winning Combination
Royal Thai: Royal Thai... Yummy and Fit for a King!
Bengal Coast: Bengal Coast: An Asian Dining Adventure!
The Green Papaya: The Green Papaya - A Tempting Vietnamese Bistro
Tex Mex/Central American:
Gloria's Restaurant: Having Dinner with an Old Friend: Gloria's Restaurant
Italian:
Taverna: Taverna: Authentic Italian Food Prepared Authentically!
Cremona Bistro: Cremona Bistro: New digs for a Dallas Favorite!
Fireside Pies: Fireside Pies: Because man does not live by bread alone!
Sal's Restaurant: Sal's Restaurant: New York Pizza in Dallas
Mediterranean:
Café Istanbul: Café Instanbul: Definitely Delightful
Ali Baba Mediterranean Grill: Ali Baba Mediterranean Grill: A New Old Experience
When I bought my first home 13 years ago, I lived in Oak Cliff. Oak Cliff, at the time, did not offer a wide variety of restaurants, but one that stood out from the many Tex Mex restaurants was a Restaurant called Gloria's.
Located at 600 W. Davis Street, Gloria's was different than many other restaurants because of the freshness of the food, the black bean dip that was served with the chips and salsa, and the Salvadoran influence in the food.
Gloria's has always been a favorite of mine. The menu has good diversity, not only featuring Tex Mex favorites like enchiladas or quesadillas, but also a variety of more Salvadoran specialties like Fried Plantains and Yucca alongside the more traditional accompaniments like guacamole.
Many of my friends like their shrimp and fish entrées, but when I went tonight for dinner, I headed right to one of my favorites, their Carne de Res Asada... a delicious marinated skirt steak. For dessert, there is always a debate between Gloria's delicious Tres Leches cake or the outstanding Flan. Either choice will not leave anyone with a sweet tooth disappointed!
Over the past 13 years, since I bought my home in Oak Cliff, Gloria's has expanded into a regional chain with 10 locations. I have been to several of the others, including their popular locations on Lemmon Avenue and the recently expanded one on Greenville Avenue in Dallas, but to get the original Gloria's experience I still like to go back to the original one in Oak Cliff. It's like having dinner with an old friend!
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Working on behalf of Short Sale clients throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area has provided the opportunity to assist remarkable people facing real-world financial challenges and foreclosure.
A third generation REALTOR® serving clients througout the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex since 2004, Steve Shatsky has proudly lived in Texas for over 15 years. Based on his professional experience in real estate and his sincere desire to provide the highest caliber of service and help struggling homeowners, in 2007 Steve decided to establish a team of Realtors that share his vision... the Home Sales Remedy team, now affiliated with Prudential Texas Properties.
Prior to his career in real estate, Steve built a highly successful career with some of the world's most respected companies including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Honda of America, The Coca-Cola Bottling Group (Southwest) and SAP. He attributes his professional success to his personal philosophy.
Steve believes that clients deserve...
Isn't that really what anyone would want when working with a REALTOR®?
In addition to working with both buyers and sellers in all price ranges, I also specialize in Short Sales / Pre-foreclosures in all areas of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex.
Over 4 years ago, when I was first approached to assist clients in selling their home with a pre-foreclosure Short Sale, it was difficult to find another real estate professional that was knowledgeable in this specialized type of sale. The fact is that there are always homeowners who face the struggles of needing to sell their home quickly due to the changes in life's circumstances that could impact any one of us, but when the economy and real estate market are stronger the need for this type of assistance is less.
Today, times have changed. As local foreclosure rates climb, Short Sales in real estate are now a more commonly recognized alternative for homeowners facing foreclosure. In fact, they have become such a phenomenon that stories about Short Sales appear with increasing frequency in the national media.
That is why in 2007 I created the Home Sales Remedy team. As a Dallas area Broker Associate / REALTOR® affiliated with Prudential Texas Properties, I have seen again and again the lifeline that a Short Sale can be to clients and have developed a specialized approach to handling these transactions successfully.
Working on behalf of Short Sale clients has provided the opportunity to assist remarkable people facing real-world financial challenges. With an understanding of these challenges, I am confident that the Home Sales Remedy team provides the level of service that smart homeowners know they have a right to expect and genuinely deserve. For more information on Short Sales, be sure to check out my website at:
http://www.homesalesremedy.com = Dallas Short Sale Specialists
http://www.steveshatsky.com = Dallas Real Estate Search & Agent Information Site with local information links
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